What are the hazards of using compressed air?
What are the hazards of using compressed air?
Depending on its pressure, compressed air can dislodge particles. These particles are a danger since they can enter your eyes or abrade the skin. The possible damage would depend on the size, weight, shape, composition, and speed of the particles.
What precautions should be taken when using compressed air?
7 Tips for Safe Use of Compressed Air
- Schedule routine maintenance.
- Check maximum pressure ratings on compressor parts.
- Keep shutoff valves within reach.
- Conduct employee training on equipment.
- Display equipment directions.
- Wear appropriate protective gear.
- Locate equipment in visible areas.
What is the most important to be considered when working with compressed air?
Safety glasses are always required when using compressed air or pneumatic tools, and face guards or shields and hearing protection are required with some impact tools. Gloves and steel-toed shoes may also be required.
Why should compressed air be used with caution?
The air brushes off dust, dirt and other debris, leaving behind a clean surface. While it’s considered safer than pressure washers and other industrial cleaning equipment, workers should still use caution when using compressed air. Handling or using it the wrong way can result in serious injury or even death.
What is the most common contaminate in compressed air systems?
Perhaps the most common contaminate and the one responsible of rusting, molding and ruining equipment downstream of your compressor is water or water vapor. As the atmospheric air is compressed, water molecules become more concentrated.
What is compression hazard?
Hazards associated with compressed gases include oxygen displacement, fires, explosions, and toxic gas exposures, as well as the physical hazards associated with high pressure systems.
What two things should you never do with compressed air?
While you can use compressed air for cleaning certain objects at low pressures and with a nozzle, you should never use compressed air for cleaning clothing or human skin.
When compressed air is used for an acceptable purpose What is the maximum allowable pressure?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1910.242 (b) requires that the nozzle pressure of an air gun used for cleaning purposes remain below 30 pounds per square inch (psi) for all static conditions. In the workplace, pressure to air guns can range from 55 to 160 psi.
What are the pressure requirement of the compressor air system?
Air tools made for general use with portable air compressors typically require 0 to 5 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at 70 to 90 pounds per square inch (psi), whereas with larger tools connected to stationary systems, the requirements usually exceed 10 cfm at 100 to 120 psi.
How can you increase the performance of compressed air?
There are five ways to improve the design of your air compressor system.
- Straighten the path.
- Save energy when needed.
- Cool the intake air.
- Use several small compressors.
- Recover waste heat.
- Locate near areas of high demand.
Why are gases compressed?
Gases are compressible because most of the volume of a gas is composed of the large amounts of empty space between the gas particles. When a gas is compressed, as when the scuba tank is being filled, the gas particles are forced closer together. Compressed gases are used in many situations.